In this examination of American liberty, the author begins by offering an exhaustive definition of liberty. First, Choby identifies six types of liberty: physical, natural, moral, religious, political, and civil. He examines the progress of liberty throughout history, including the importance of the Judeo-Christian Bible to the growth of American Liberty. The thread of liberty is followed through the Code of Hammurabi, the Ten Commandments, the Pentateuch, Plato's Republic, and Aristotle's Politics. Challenges during the Middle Ages, such as the seizure of the Temple of Solomon, which led to the Crusades, are examined, as is the importance of the Magna Carta as "the most important first step in the negotiations of personal freedoms in Western cultures that were recognized and defended by a government…." Other important philosophical and political thinkers are also discussed, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson.
Choby's study of the growth of liberty is a fascinating look at historical and political factors leading to the American ideal of liberty. The author offers concise, informative chapters which trace the birth, growth, and evolution of the concept of individual liberty in America. His book argues that American liberty is at risk because of the prevalence of socialism among liberal members of Congress who wish to change the government's structure. The text also doesn't avoid blaming the liberal media specifically as proponents of "fake news." These views of liberalism and progressivism as the sole causes of America's problems cause the book's argument to come across as somewhat one-sided. However, the inclusion of easily understood details about historical events makes this the perfect book for those wishing to learn about the development of thought which gave birth to American liberty.